On a whim I decided to participate in this challenge — blog every day for two weeks, with prompts given, about my creative journey. I’m doing it here, on my personal site, rather than on Copper Dancer Designs or Thursday Nights at Windy Hill, because I choose not to limit myself to one aspect of my polymath life for this project.
Today’s prompt:
Tell us the big “why” behind the creative work you do. Here are a few questions to consider as you write:
- Why do you exist?
- What is your purpose here on this earth?
- How would you express the “why” behind your creative work in a few short sentences?
- What do you want to be remembered for?
- Can you think of three or more key words that embody the reason why you create art?
- If you were to write a short, memorable, and inspirational t-shirt message about the purpose or mission for your creative work, what would it say?
Well, I suppose I do my creative work because I can’t NOT do it. I’ve always created, even if it was just somewhere inside my head. My hands, especially, always have to be doing something, whether it’s creating program code, jewelry, socks, words, pound cakes, or drum beats. Creating stuff brings me inner peace and seems to bring others little bits of beauty and enjoyment — not a bad thing at all!
Why do I exist and what is my purpose here on earth? I don’t know that yet, and honestly, I don’t think it really matters to me on a day to day basis. Especially as I get older, I try not to spend too much time getting all existential about my existence. I’m here, I’m learning and growing and doing the best I can, trying to share what I learn and provide an example that perhaps others can find helpful. As I get older, I’m learning to be more in the moment and less about the unknowable. How people remember me after I’m gone is the same as what people think of me today — none of my business and out of my control. So I don’t spend energy being concerned about it. I’d rather create and just put it out there.
“Create for yourself; share it with the world.”
I identify with your statement about creating things with your hands because you CAN’T not do it – me too, crocheting, gardening, baking, — but ART (painting and drawing) is what really makes me the most content.
How wonderful to have always created stuff! I admire you for having such clarity about who you are and how you want to be. Making art brings me peace too!
Very inspirational
Yay!